Team Rector’s Letter February 2019
I’m sure we’d all agree that change can be a bit disorientating, so I thought it would be useful if I offered a ‘recap’ of what has been happening across the newly-expanded Bexley Team over the last month or so, and how we are progressing!
In a very special service on Saturday 19 January the Bishop of Tonbridge, Bishop Simon Burton-Jones licensed two new members of clergy to the Bexley Team. I am delighted that they are now ‘on-board’ and am looking forward to working alongside them.
Reverend Clive Wood was previously Curate at All Saints Church in Belvedere and recently he has had considerable experience leading various services in other churches in the diocese. Bishop Simon licensed Reverend Clive as a ‘Team Vicar’, but he will have particular responsibility for the congregation at St Mary’s, whilst contributing to the whole Team in a variety of ways.
Reverend Sue Twynam served her curacy in at St John’s in Sidcup and has spent a number of years as Associate Priest at Christ Church Bexleyheath. She has now been licensed as Associate Priest to the Bexley Team and she will be working across all four churches.
For the moment, Reverend Gary Best continues as Curate for the Team, and most of his time will be spent with the congregation at St John’s Bexley. As is the nature of Curates, the time will soon come for him to move on to another parish. We are currently advertising for another Team Vicar to join the team, who will be working mainly in the St John’s parish.
As Team Rector my overall task is to work with others, both lay and ordained, to discern prayerfully God’s vision for the Team and to encourage us all to catch a glimpse of ‘The Bigger Picture’. I am committed to do my best to offer all I can in the way of guidance and encouragement to all four churches so that together we can strengthen our worship, biblical teaching, Christian nurture and community engagement. I will continue to have the day-to-day responsibility for St Barnabas, Joydens Wood and St James, North Cray.
It is a cliché to say ‘there are no problems, only challenges’!
It is my prayer that whatever the ‘challenges’ we face, we will work together to resolve them, through God’s grace.
Reverend Ren Harding (Team Rector)
contact me at The Vicarage, 6 Tile Kiln Lane
01322-528923 renharding@hotmail.co.uk